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Grant sought for new fire station, administration building
GREENVILLE, Jun 22, 2009 (Greenville Herald-Banner - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
A combined new Greenville Fire Station No. 1 and administration building could cost approximately $5 million.
Fire Chief Doug Caison is hoping to obtain some federal stimulus funding for the project, while also seeking grants for improvements to the Greenville Fire-Rescue Department's communications system and for an exhaust removal system.
Caison is scheduled to ask the City Council for its approval to seek out the grants during Tuesday's regular Council meeting, starting at 6 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 2821 Washington Street. The items are also up for discussion during the Council work session, starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The Greenville Fire-Rescue Department is also scheduled to receive an honor from Texas Governor Rick Perry during Tuesday's regular session.
Caison is wanting to receive a Fire Station Construction (FSC) grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
City officials have previously sought to obtain grant in order to assist in paying for a combination administration building and replacement for the city's oldest fire station. Plans to build a new such a structure have been in the works since March 2007. The goal has been to replace the existing Fire Station No. 1 at 1901 Johnson Street and the current Fire Department Administration Building at 2603 Templeton Street.
Both buildings opened in 1953. The administration building is housed in the former Fire Station No. 3, which for years had sat vacant before being put to use when the Fire Department moved from the former Henson Building downtown.
In a memo to the Council, Caison noted Fire Station No. 1 has had recurring problems with both its plumbing and foundation.
"The plumbing is the original clay pipe plumbing and the walls are separating from the ceiling and floors," Caison said. "Station One has no insulation and it is doubtful the building would meet today's building and fire codes."
Such a grant could pay 100 percent of a construction-related cost, up to $5 million per project, which is the amount the combination fire station/administration building has been estimated to cost.
Caison is also seeking an Assistance to Firefighters Communication Grant, which would allow the department to purchase an updated communication system. The new system would allow interoperability with neighboring public safety agencies and also meet federal and state mandates which will make the present system illegal in less than four years. The Federal Communications Commission has mandated that all "wideband" communications systems, such as is currently being used by the Greenville Fire-Rescue Department, be converted to "narrowband" systems by Jan. 1, 2013. Those agencies which do not switch will lose their license to operate. The cost to make the switch in Greenville has been estimated at $203,186, with the grant, if it is approved, paying for 90 percent.
A grant is also being sought for an exhaust removal system for the Greenville Fire-Rescue Department. None of the department's facilities currently have such a system, which would prevent living areas in the stations from being contaminated with diesel exhaust. The cost of the system would come to $97,185, with the grant paying 90 percent.
The Greenville Fire-Rescue Department is also to receive an official recognition Tuesday from Perry's office, in appreciation for the department's service and rapid response during the wildfires which were reported across North Texas in April.
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